Earlier on Saturday, Povetkin told TASS that the talks on the bout with Wilder’s representatives had failed

Alexander Povetkin

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The team of Russian heavyweight boxer Alexander Povetkin is preparing for purse bid set for February 26 ahead of his mandatory bout with WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder of the United States, the head of the Boxing World promotion company said on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday, Povetkin told TASS that the talks on the bout with Wilder’s representatives had failed.

"Talks failed, there will be trade negotiations," Povetkin, also known as ‘Russian Vityaz’ (30-1, 22 KOs), said.

"We have some time," Andrey Ryabinskiy, the head of the Boxing World, told TASS. "We are preparing for the purse bid, which was earlier scheduled in Mexico on February 26 and now is relocated to the US."

"The purse bid is even more convenient for us," he said. "Everything is objective, the side offering more will organize the bout."